JP2006040256A - Magnetic ink character reading apparatus and method, program and pos terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic ink character reading apparatus and method, a program and POS terminal equipment for reducing recognition errors by an optical reading apparatus and thereby improving a read rate. <P>SOLUTION: This magnetic ink character reading apparatus 1 for reading the character string of magnetic ink characters is provided with a magnetic reading mechanism 45 and an optical reading mechanism 47. The magnetic reading result is compared with the optical reading result (a step of S5), and when those results are different from each other, optical recognition processing is executed again. The positions of reading objects are compared (a step of S6), and the reading objects whose positions deviate in a direction perpendicular to the character string are specified (a step of S7), and the reading objects are newly recognized. The newly recognized processing positions are near the reading objects whose positions deviate, and the positions in the direction perpendicular to the character string are at the positions of the reading objects whose magnetic reading result and the optical reading result are matched (steps of S8, 9). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic ink character reading device that reads a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a processing target medium such as a check. The present invention also relates to a magnetic ink character reading method for performing a reading process of a magnetic ink character printed on a processing target medium such as a check using a magnetic ink character reading device, and a program for realizing a magnetic ink character reading method. . Furthermore, the present invention relates to a POS terminal device provided with a magnetic ink character reading device.

  Conventionally, in commercial transactions, shopping at stores, payments at restaurants, etc., payments may be made using checks or personal check paper (hereinafter collectively referred to as “check paper”). Especially in the United States and European countries, it is widely used on a daily basis. In general, a bank code, a bank account number, and the like are printed with magnetic ink characters at a predetermined place (lower column) of a check sheet. In a retail store or the like, a payer of money fills in a payee, an amount in numerical notation, an amount in word notation and a signature, and pays the store. At the store, the bank code or bank account number printed with magnetic ink characters is read, and the read data is inquired to the bank or credit bureau to confirm the validity of the check sheet. If valid, the retail store prints an endorsement on the back of the check sheet and receives it from the user.

  Bank codes and bank account numbers printed with magnetic ink characters are basic data for checkouts and the like, and accurate reading is required. In particular, misrecognition of magnetic ink characters may cause a major problem in the post-processing process, such as the settlement process proceeds based on the misrecognition data and the settlement process is performed in an account different from the payer's account. There is. Therefore, it is important to correctly read the magnetic ink characters in the check sheet checkout process. For this reason, a technique for character recognition by a magnetic reader is devised to improve the reading rate and reduce the misrecognition rate.

  In addition, there has also been proposed a technique for improving the reading rate by optically reading a character that has not been magnetically read by using an optical reading device together (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Furthermore, considering that there is a possibility of erroneously recognizing the content even if it can be read, the reading result of the magnetic reading device is compared with the reading result of the optical reading device, and only the matching result is regarded as the correct reading result. Thus, a technique for reducing the false recognition rate has also been proposed (see Patent Document 3).

JP 49-49545 A JP 7-182448 A JP 2000-259664 A

  However, in order to reliably read the position where the magnetic ink character is printed, the variation in the printing position of the magnetic ink character, the variation in the size of the check paper, the variation in the size of the magnetic ink character reader, etc. are taken into consideration. Therefore, a wider range must be set as the reading target area. However, when a wider area is to be read, the check paper has a payer's signature and various background patterns, and the optical reader uses these signs and background patterns in the vicinity of the magnetic ink characters. There is a problem that it may be mistakenly recognized. Hereinafter, a reading target such as a sign or a pattern that is not a magnetic ink character that may be erroneously recognized by the optical reader is referred to as a noise character.

  Since the noise character is not a magnetic ink character, the possibility of being erroneously recognized by the magnetic reader is very small. Therefore, even if the magnetic reading device reads correctly without being influenced by the noise character, the optical reading device may read the noise character and make a recognition error. However, if the reading results are different between the magnetic reading device and the optical reading device, there is a risk of erroneous recognition. Therefore, considering that there is a possibility that the contents may be erroneously recognized even if the reading can be performed, there is a problem that the reading rate is rather lowered by introducing the optical reading device in addition to the magnetic reading device.

  Therefore, the present invention can suppress erroneous recognition of a sign, a background pattern, and the like by an optical reading device, thereby improving the reading rate, and a magnetic ink character reading device, a magnetic ink character reading method, and a program An object is to provide a POS terminal device.

  A magnetic ink character reading device according to the present invention includes a magnetic data acquisition unit that magnetically acquires magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters to a sheet-like processing medium, and a magnetic for recognizing magnetic data. A recognition unit, an optical data acquisition unit that optically acquires an image including magnetic ink characters forming a character string, an optical recognition unit that recognizes a reading target included in the image for each character, and a magnetic recognition unit A comparison / determination unit that compares a first magnetic reading result that is a result of character string recognition by the first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit. When it is determined that the magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result, the optical recognition unit recognizes the reading target by the magnetic recognition unit among the reading targets recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit. The second result The recognition processing range in the direction perpendicular to the character string direction is changed for a misrecognized character that is a reading target in which the reading result is different from the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading target by the optical reading unit. The recognition process is performed again.

  A magnetic ink character reading method according to the present invention includes a step of magnetically acquiring magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium by a magnetic data acquisition unit, and magnetic recognition of the magnetic data. A step of performing recognition processing by the unit, a step of optically acquiring an image including magnetic ink characters forming a character string by the optical data acquiring unit, and a target to be read included in the image by the optical recognition unit for each character A step of processing, a step of comparing a first magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit, and a first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit; When the result and the first optical reading result are different, the optical recognition unit detects the reading pair by the magnetic recognition unit among the reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit. Reading position of the character string in the column direction with respect to a misrecognized character that is a reading target that is different from the second magnetic reading result that is the recognition result and the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading target by the optical reading unit And re-performing the recognition process.

  The program according to the present invention includes a step of acquiring magnetic data in which a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium is magnetically acquired by a magnetic data acquisition unit; A step of recognition processing by the recognition unit, a step of acquiring an image including magnetic ink characters that form a character string optically acquired by the optical data acquisition unit, and an optical recognition unit of a computer that reads a reading target included in the image Comparing the step of performing recognition processing for each character equivalent, the first magnetic reading result that is the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit, and the first optical reading result that is the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit If the determination unit compares the step, the first magnetic reading result, and the first optical reading result, the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit recognize each other. Among reading objects, the second magnetic reading result, which is the recognition result of the reading object by the magnetic recognition unit, and the second optical reading result, which is the recognition result of the reading object by the optical reading unit, are different reading objects. With respect to the recognized character, the step of limiting the reading position of the character string in the column direction and performing the recognition process by the optical recognition unit of the computer again is executed by the computer.

  According to the method and configuration of the present invention, when the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit and the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit do not match, the optical recognition unit only for reading objects with different recognition results. The recognition process is performed again. The magnetic reading and the optical reading are different in the detected event, so the cause of erroneous recognition is different. Therefore, if the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit matches the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit, it can be determined that the recognition has been correctly performed with high probability. If the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit is different from the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit, the optical recognition unit performs the recognition process again, so that the optical reading is performed even though the magnetic reading is accurate. May be able to suppress a decrease in coincidence rate due to erroneous recognition, thereby improving the correct recognition reading rate. By performing the recognition process again only on the reading target for which the recognition result by the magnetic recognition unit and the recognition result by the optical recognition unit are different, the probability of matching can be increased efficiently, and the reading rate can be improved.

  A magnetic ink character reading device according to the present invention includes a magnetic data acquisition unit that magnetically acquires magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters to a sheet-like processing medium, and a magnetic for recognizing magnetic data. A recognition unit, an optical data acquisition unit that optically acquires an image including magnetic ink characters forming a character string, an optical recognition unit that recognizes a reading target included in the image for each character, and a magnetic recognition unit A comparison / determination unit that compares the first magnetic reading result that is the result of character string recognition by the optical recognition unit and the first optical reading result that is the result of character string recognition by the optical recognition unit, and the position of the reading target recognized by the optical recognition unit A position calculating unit that calculates an optical character position, and when the comparison determination unit determines that the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result, the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit And recognized Among the objects to be read, the second magnetic reading result that is the recognition result of the reading object by the magnetic recognition unit and the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading object by the optical recognition unit are the same as the reading target optical character A recognition process by the optical recognition unit is performed again on a reading target at a position that deviates beyond a predetermined allowable value in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction with the position as a reference position.

  A magnetic ink character reading method according to the present invention includes a step of magnetically acquiring magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium by a magnetic data acquisition unit, and magnetic recognition of the magnetic data. A step of performing recognition processing by the unit, a step of optically acquiring an image including magnetic ink characters forming a character string by the optical data acquiring unit, and a target to be read included in the image by the optical recognition unit for each character A step of processing, a step of comparing a first magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of a character string by the magnetic recognition unit and a first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit; If the step of calculating the optical character position, which is the position of the recognized reading object, and the first magnetic reading result and the first optical reading result are different, the magnetic recognition unit and the light Among the reading objects recognized by the recognition unit, the second magnetic reading result that is the recognition result of the reading object by the magnetic recognition unit and the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading object by the optical recognition unit are the same. Step for re-performing the recognition processing by the optical recognition unit for the reading object at a position that deviates beyond a predetermined allowable value in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction with the optical character position of a certain reading object as a reference position It is characterized by having.

  The program according to the present invention includes a step of acquiring magnetic data in which a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium is magnetically acquired by a magnetic data acquisition unit; A step of recognition processing by the recognition unit, a step of acquiring an image including magnetic ink characters that form a character string optically acquired by the optical data acquisition unit, and an optical recognition unit of a computer that reads a reading target included in the image Comparing the step of performing recognition processing for each character equivalent, the first magnetic reading result that is the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit, and the first optical reading result that is the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit The position calculation unit of the computer calculates the step that the determination unit compares and the optical character position that is the position of the reading target recognized by the optical recognition unit. When the step, the first magnetic reading result, and the first optical reading result are different, the reading target is recognized by the magnetic recognition unit among the reading targets recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit. The optical character position of the reading target, which is the same as the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading target by the optical recognition unit, is set as a reference position in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction. This is for causing the computer to execute the step of re-performing the recognition process by the optical recognition unit of the computer with respect to the reading object at a position deviating beyond the allowable value.

  According to the configuration and method of the present invention, the optical recognition unit performs the recognition process again for the reading object whose character position is shifted in the direction perpendicular to the character string direction. If the optical recognition unit misrecognizes, there is a possibility that a noise character such as a sign or a pattern different from the magnetic ink character that is the target reading object is recognized. By the way, there is a low possibility that a noise character is arranged at a position where the magnetic ink character is printed, and the noise character is highly likely to be shifted from the magnetic ink character in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction. On the other hand, a character whose recognition result by the magnetic recognition unit matches the recognition result by the optical recognition unit has a very high probability of being a correctly read character, and has a high probability of being a magnetic ink character that is a target reading target. Extremely high. Therefore, the optical recognition unit again recognizes a reading target that is shifted in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction with respect to the reading target in which the recognition result by the magnetic recognition unit and the recognition result by the optical recognition unit match. By doing so, there is a possibility that a decrease in the matching rate due to erroneous recognition of the optical reading may be suppressed, and the reading rate of correct recognition can be improved.

  In this case, when the magnetic ink character reading device performs the recognition processing by the optical recognition unit again, the recognition processing range on the processing target medium is the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading result in the character string direction. In the vicinity of the range where the misrecognized character that is the reading target is different from the range where the misrecognized character is located, and in the direction perpendicular to the column direction of the character string, the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit It is preferable that the reading object in which the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading result are the same is located in the reading object recognized by the above.

  In this case, in the magnetic ink character reading method, in the step of performing the recognition processing by the optical recognition unit again, the recognition processing range on the target medium is the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading in the character string direction. The magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit are in the vicinity of the range where the misrecognized character, which is the object to be read, is different from the result, and in the vicinity of the range where the misrecognized character is located It is preferable that the reading target in which the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading result are the same is located in the reading target recognized by the above.

  In this case, in the step in which the program performs the recognition process by the optical recognition unit of the computer again, the recognition process range on the processing medium is the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading result in the character string direction. In the direction where the misrecognized character that is the reading object is different and in the vicinity of the range where the misrecognized character is located, and in the direction perpendicular to the column direction of the character string, the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit are Among the recognized reading objects, it is preferable that the reading object in which the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading result are the same is located.

  According to this configuration and method, the position in the character string direction is the position of the misrecognized character or the vicinity of the position of the misrecognized character, and the position in the direction perpendicular to the character string direction is the recognition result of the magnetic recognition unit. The recognition process by the optical recognition unit is performed again for the position that is the same as the position of the reading target that has the same recognition result of the optical recognition unit. If the optical recognition unit misrecognizes, there is a possibility that a noise character such as a sign or a pattern different from the magnetic ink character that is the target of reading is read. By the way, there is a low possibility that a noise character is arranged at a position where the magnetic ink character is printed, and the noise character is highly likely to be shifted from the magnetic ink character in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction. On the other hand, a reading target in which the recognition result by the magnetic recognition unit and the recognition result by the optical recognition unit match is extremely likely to be a correctly recognized character, and is a magnetic ink character that is the target reading target. The probability is extremely high. Therefore, the position of the misrecognized character or in the vicinity of the position of the misrecognized character and in the direction perpendicular to the character string direction, the magnetic recognition unit recognition result and the optical recognition unit recognition result are the same. By re-performing the recognition process by the optical recognition unit for the position of the ink character, there is a possibility that the decrease in the matching rate due to the erroneous recognition by the optical recognition unit may be suppressed, and the correct recognition reading rate may be improved. it can.

  In this case, the magnetic ink character reading device includes a host device and a composite processing device having a printing unit that executes printing based on data transmitted from the host device. The composite processing device includes a magnetic data acquisition unit. And an optical data acquisition unit, and the host device includes at least a magnetic recognition unit, an optical recognition unit, and a comparison determination unit, and each data acquired by each acquisition unit is combined. It is preferable that each process by the magnetic recognition unit, the optical recognition unit, and the comparison determination unit is performed based on data transmitted from the processing device to the host device and received by the host device.

  By providing the printing unit, it is possible to process the reading of magnetic ink characters and the printing of endorsements and fronts in the checkout of check paper such as checks by a POS terminal device or the like with a single device.

  A POS terminal device according to the present invention includes the above-described magnetic ink character reading device.

  In the checkout of check paper such as a check by the POS terminal device, there is a possibility that non-coincidence can be improved when the reading results do not match because the optical reading is misrecognized, and the correct recognition reading rate can be improved. .

  Hereinafter, a magnetic ink character reading device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a host apparatus and a composite processing apparatus that constitute a magnetic ink character reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outline of a check which is an example of a processing target medium. In the check settlement, after the validity of the check is confirmed, the amount and the signature of the check maker are written and endorsed. Therefore, by providing a printer in the magnetic ink character reading device, it is possible to perform a series of processes of reading magnetic ink characters and writing front / back printing accompanying check settlement with a single device.

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader) character reading processing, and is applicable not only to checks but also to processing media such as bills. As an example, in the following description, a check is used as a processing target medium. Furthermore, although the present invention does not necessarily have a printer as an indispensable constituent element, in the following description, the most typical example will be described using check settlement, so that a magnetic reading function and an optical reading function are used. The magnetic ink character reading device 1 including the composite processing device 10 having a printing function will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the host device 6 includes a display unit 7 and an operation unit 8. The composite processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is covered with a resin cover 11, and an insertion port 12 for manually inserting a check (medium to be processed) 20 is formed on the front surface of the composite processing apparatus 10. ing. The check inserted from the insertion port 12 is discharged from a discharge port 14 provided on the upper surface. The composite processing apparatus 10 includes a roll paper storage unit (not shown) that stores roll paper in the rear part thereof, and the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit passes through the printing unit and roll paper on the upper surface of the apparatus. It is pulled out from the discharge port 16. The host apparatus 6 and the composite processing apparatus 10 are electrically coupled by a cable 9.

  Next, the check 20 will be described. On the surface of the check 20 shown in FIG. 2, there are provided a writing area 21 for writing a writing item, a signature area 22 for signing, and a MICR recording area 23 printed with magnetic ink characters. On the back side of the check 20, there is an endorsing area 24 for filling in endorsement items. In the table area 21, items to be written such as a payee, date, and amount are entered. The signature area 22 is signed by a user (shopper) of the check 20 who is a payer of money. In the endorsement area 24, the endorsement items necessary for the receiving side (store side) of the check 20 such as the authentication number, date, and amount of money used by the user of the check 20 are entered. In the MICR recording area 23, the bank code and bank account number of the user of the check 20 are printed with magnetic ink characters. Note that the character string described in the MICR recording area 23 shown in FIG. 2 is a fictitious character string set for the explanation of the present embodiment, and is a character having a specific meaning described in an existing check. Unlike strings, it is a character string that has no specific meaning.

  The check 20 is inserted into the insertion slot 12 in the direction of the arrow v in FIG. The composite processing apparatus 10 acquires magnetic data and optical data of magnetic ink characters printed in the MICR recording area 23 while conveying the check 20. Each data transmitted from the composite processing apparatus 10 to the host apparatus 6 is recognized in the host apparatus 6, and the character string is sequentially recognized in the direction of the arrow w from the right end in FIG.

  In a retail store or the like, a money payer hands the check 20 to the store side. The store side prints the store name as the payee, the amount in numerical notation, and the amount in words on the check 20 by the printing apparatus of the composite processing apparatus 10, and returns the check 20 to the payer. The payer checks the payee printed on the check 20, the amount in numerical notation, and the amount in words, fills in the signature, and pays to the store side. At the store, the bank code or bank account number printed with magnetic ink characters is read, and the read data is inquired to the bank or credit bureau to confirm the validity of the check 20. If valid, the retail store prints an endorsement (acknowledgment) on the back side of the check 20 and receives it from the user, and the payment process of money by the check 20 is completed.

  Next, magnetic ink characters will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the character shape of one example of magnetic ink characters. The magnetic ink characters printed in the MICR recording area 23 are read by the MICR head. The MICR head is composed of a permanent magnet and a magnetic head. On the other hand, magnetic material powder is mixed in the magnetic ink. Therefore, when the check 20 passes in front of the permanent magnet, the magnetic ink character is magnetized. When the magnetized magnetic ink character passes in front of the read head, the magnetic flux changes according to the shape of the magnetic ink character, so that a waveform corresponding to the shape of the character is output from the read head. Since the shape of the magnetic ink character is determined by the standard, the magnetic ink character can be read by the waveform pattern. Examples of MICR fonts include E13B and CMC7. For example, the E13B font defines a total of 14 types of characters including numbers 0 to 9 and 4 types of symbols. The magnetic ink characters shown in FIG. 3 are E13B fonts.

  Next, an electrical configuration for driving the magnetic ink character reading device 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main components of the hardware of the composite processing device and the host device constituting the magnetic ink character reading device. The control unit 40 of the composite processing apparatus 10 performs overall management of the operation of each unit of the composite processing apparatus 10. The control unit 40 performs a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 that performs arithmetic processing, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 42 a that temporarily stores control commands and print data received from the host device 6, and various arithmetic processes. It has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42b that records routines and the like. These are electrically connected to each other.

  The CPU 41 is connected with a magnetic reading mechanism 45, a printing mechanism 46, an optical reading mechanism 47, a paper transport mechanism 48, various sensors 49, a display unit 50, an operation unit 51, and the like via an internal interface 43a and an internal interface 43b. The CPU 41 controls the operation of each unit based on the control program stored in the ROM 42b. Each mechanism includes the necessary logic circuits. The composite processing apparatus 10 is connected to a host apparatus 6 such as a host computer of a POS terminal, for example, via an external interface 52, and executes a predetermined operation under the control of the host apparatus 6.

  The host device 6 includes a CPU 60 that performs overall processing by performing overall management of operations of the respective units of the composite processing device 10 and the host device 6. The CPU 60 is connected to a memory 61 for storing control commands, print data, and control programs, an input / output interface 62, a display unit 7, an operation unit 8, and the like. The host device 6 is connected to the composite processing device 10 via the input / output interface 62.

  Next, using the magnetic ink character reading device 1 described above, a process of reading the bank code or bank account number of the user of the check 20 printed with magnetic ink characters in the MICR recording area 23 of the check 20 Will be explained. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for reading a character string of magnetic ink characters.

  The check 20 is inserted into the insertion slot 12 and conveyed by the paper conveyance mechanism 48. In step S1, magnetic ink characters are magnetically read by the magnetic reading device. First, magnetic ink characters are acquired as magnetic data by the magnetic reading mechanism 45. The magnetic data acquired by the magnetic reading mechanism 45 is sent to the host device 6, and magnetic ink character recognition processing is executed by the CPU 60. The magnetic data is normalized through A / D conversion, magnetic character cutting, smoothing processing, and normalization processing. The normalized magnetic data is compared with the reference data stored in the memory 61. When the magnetic data and the reference data match within a predetermined range, the magnetic data is recognized as a character corresponding to the matched reference data. Further, the position where the magnetic data that matches the reference data is cut out is recognized as the character position of the recognized character. The recognition process is performed on all the magnetic ink characters constituting the character string, and the character string recognition process by the magnetic recognition unit is completed. The magnetic reading mechanism 45 corresponds to a magnetic data acquisition unit, and the CPU 60 and the memory 61 correspond to a magnetic recognition unit. The magnetic reading mechanism 45, the CPU 60, and the memory 61 correspond to a magnetic reading device.

  In step S2, the character and the character position corresponding to the reference data that matches the magnetic data are stored in the memory 61 as the magnetic reading result.

  Next, in step S3, the magnetic ink character is optically read by the optical reading device. The check 20 is imaged by the optical reading mechanism 47, and the imaged data is sent to the host device 6. The CPU 60 cuts out a predetermined range of images including magnetic ink characters from the image data sent to the host device 6 and executes magnetic ink character recognition processing. The optical reading mechanism 47 corresponds to an optical data acquisition unit, and the CPU 60 and the memory 61 correspond to an optical recognition unit. The optical reading mechanism 47, the CPU 60, and the memory 61 correspond to an optical reading device. The image is compared with a predetermined template, and when the image data and the template data match within a predetermined range, the image is recognized as a character corresponding to the matched template.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a template. FIG. 6A is an example of a template for each character of the E13B font shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of the template for the character “1”. For the sake of explanation, as shown in the figure, the height direction of the character is defined as the x direction, and the direction perpendicular to the x direction is defined as the y direction. The x direction and the y direction are the same as the x direction and the y direction shown in FIG. One template is formed with a total of 456 dots, 24 dots in the x direction and 19 dots in the y direction. The color of each dot is black or white, and characters are formed in the shape of a set of black dots. In each template, dots serving as reference points as shown in FIG. 6B are defined, and the range of 24 dots in the x direction and 19 dots in the y direction from the reference point is the size of one character.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a cut image. The area included in the cutout image 70 shown in FIG. 7 is set so as to include the MICR recording area 23 defined by the standard. The cut image 70 has a sufficient margin with respect to the size of the MICR image 71 that is the image of the MICR recording area 23 in consideration of the variation in the position of the MICR recording area 23. Since the range with sufficient margin is cut, the cut image 70 also includes a part of a sign image 72 that is an image of a signature written by the user of the check 20. For the sake of explanation, as shown in the figure, the height direction of characters is defined as the x direction, and the character string direction orthogonal to the x direction is defined as the y direction. The x direction and the y direction are the same as the x direction and the y direction shown in FIG. The arrow w is the same as the arrow w shown in FIG. Note that the character string described in FIG. 7 is a fictitious character string set for the description of the present embodiment, and is different from a character string described in an actual check and having a specific meaning. It is a character string that has no meaning.

  The comparison with the image template is performed on a matching region in which the y direction of the cut image 70 is divided into sizes corresponding to one character of the MICR image 71. The comparison area of 24 dots in the x direction and 19 dots in the y direction in the matching area is compared with 14 templates, and the black or white mismatch rate of 456 dots is counted. The comparison section that counts the mismatch rate compared with the template is initially a section of 24 dots in the x direction and 19 dots in the y direction from the left end of the cut image 70 in FIG. 7, and the comparison section that is compared with the template is x This is a section of 24 dots in the x direction and 19 dots in the y direction shifted by 1 dot in the direction. Similarly, the comparison section is compared with 14 templates in each comparison section while shifting the comparison section by one dot in the x direction, and each comparison section until the right end of the comparison section reaches the right end of the matching area in FIG. Find the discrepancy rate.

  When the mismatch rate is within a predetermined limit value, the character of the template whose mismatch rate is within the predetermined limit value is set as a recognized character, and the position of the comparison section with the mismatch rate within the predetermined limit value is set as the character position. The character position is represented by the position of the reference point of the template. When the mismatch rate is within a predetermined limit value in a plurality of comparison sections, or when the mismatch rate with a plurality of templates is within a predetermined limit value, the position and template of the comparison section with the smallest mismatch rate Is the character position and the recognized character in the matching area. When the recognition process for one matching area is completed, the recognition process for the next matching area is performed in the same manner. The matching area that performs the recognition process first is the uppermost matching area in FIG. 7 of the cut image 70, and the matching area that performs the recognition process next is the matching area adjacent to the matching area that was read first. . Recognition processing is performed up to the lowest matching region in FIG. 7 of the cut image 70, and the character string recognition processing by the optical recognition unit is completed.

  In FIG. 5, in step S4 performed after step S3, the character position and the recognized character in each matching area are stored in the memory 61 as an optical reading result.

  In the next step S5, it is determined whether or not the character of the optical reading result and the character of the magnetic reading result stored in the memory 61 are the same. If the character of the optical reading result is the same as the character of the magnetic reading result (YES in step S5), it is determined that the character string printed with the magnetic ink character in the MICR recording area 23 has been read correctly. The process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the reading result that matches the optical reading result and the magnetic reading result is stored in the memory 61 as the reading result, and the reading of the character string printed in the MICR recording area 23 is finished.

  If the character of the optical reading result is different from the character of the magnetic reading result (NO in step S5), it is determined that the character string may not be read correctly by the optical reading device, and the process proceeds to step S6. .

  In step S6, the character positions to be read recognized by the CPU 60 are compared. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of a cut-out image. FIG. 8 shows a part of the cut-out image 70 shown in FIG. 7, and symbols “a” to “h” are assigned to the read objects to be read. If a blank is expressed as “empty”, the correct character string is “560O empty empty 081”. Here, it is assumed that the magnetic reading is correctly recognized and the magnetic reading result is “560O empty 081”.

  The CPU 60 performs recognition processing from the upper side of FIG. 8 to recognize the portions of the reading target g, the reading target f, and the reading target e, and erroneously sets the reading target d portion of the sign image 72 as “1” in the blank portion. It has recognized. Since the position of the reading object d in the y direction and the position of the reading object h in FIG. 8 are closer than the width of the matching area in the y direction, the portion of the reading object h cannot be correctly recognized and is ignored. Thus, the part of the reading target c is recognized next to the part of the reading target d. It is determined that there is a blank space in which a part of the signature character exists but there is no matching template and no magnetic ink character exists between the reading target e and the reading target d. As a result, the character string of the optical reading result recognized by the CPU 60 is “5601 empty 081”.

  In the character position comparison, adjacent character positions to be read are sequentially compared, and the amount of deviation in the x direction is compared. More specifically, in FIG. 8A, the character position of the reading target a is first set as a temporary reference. Next, the character position of the reading object “a” is compared with the character position of the reading object “b”, and the amount of deviation in the x direction is obtained. When the amount of deviation is smaller than the predetermined number of dots, it is determined that the reading target b is not shifted from the reading target a, and the reading target b is put in the same character block as the reading target a. If the deviation amount is larger than the predetermined number of dots, it is determined that the reading target b is shifted from the reading target a, and the reading target b is put in a new character block different from the reading target a. In the case shown in FIG. 8, the reading target b is put in the same character block as the reading target a. Similarly, the reading target c is put in the same block as the reading target b, that is, the same character block as the reading target a.

  The reading object d is at a position shifted from the character string, and the amount of deviation is larger than a predetermined number of dots by comparing the character position of the reading object d with the character position of the reading object c. The reading object d is put in a new character block different from the reading object c. The reading target e is at the position of the character string, and the amount of deviation is larger than a predetermined number of dots by comparing the character position of the reading target e with the character position of the reading target d. The reading object e is put in a new character block different from the reading object d. Since the reading target e is put in a new character block different from the reading target d, a blank portion between the reading target e and the reading target d is put in the same character block as the reading target d.

  Similarly, the character positions of the reading object f and the reading object g are compared and put in the same character block as the reading object e. In this way, each reading target is classified into three character blocks: an abc character block, a d character block, and an efg character block. The predetermined number of dots for determining the amount of deviation is set to 35 dots by adding the amount of deviation when the image is inclined to 24 dots, for example, the number of dots in the x direction of the template.

  In the next step S7, a character (reading object) whose position in the x direction is deviated is obtained. In the present embodiment, the recognition target d in the central character block that does not include the reading target in which the character of the optical reading result matches the character of the magnetic reading result is a character that is misaligned in the x direction. Judged to be a character.

  Next, in step S8, a position for performing the re-recognition process is determined. The re-recognition processing position is determined on the basis of the character position of the reading target located at the end of the character block adjacent to the block including the reading target determined to be deviated. In the present embodiment, the positions of the reading object c and the reading object e are used as a reference. The range in the y direction of the position where the re-recognition process is performed is set between the reading target c and the reading target e, that is, the range of the character block including the reading target d that is a misrecognized character. The range in the x direction of the position where the re-recognition process is performed is set to a range obtained by adding a correction value to the width in the x direction of the reading target c or the reading target e.

  The correction value takes into account variations in the size of the magnetic characters and variations in the printing position. For example, 4 dots are added to both sides of the width in the x direction of the reading target c or the reading target e. Here, the variation in the printing position is a variation in the position of the magnetic ink characters in the character string. The variation in the printing position considered when determining the range of the cut image 70 is the variation in the printing position of the character string with respect to the check 20, and the positional variation between the magnetic ink characters is very small compared to that. is there. The part shaded in FIG. 8B is the re-recognition range (re-recognition position) of this embodiment.

  Next, in step S9, re-recognition processing by the CPU 60 is performed. The range in which the re-recognition processing is performed is the range determined in step S8, and in the present embodiment, the portion shaded in FIG. 8B. The shaded portion includes a reading target h that has been ignored because the reading target d, which is a misrecognized character, is recognized in the first optical recognition. Further, the reading object d is not included in the re-recognition processing range. Therefore, there is almost no possibility that the first recognition is reproduced in the re-recognition process, and the possibility that the recognition is correctly recognized becomes extremely high. Furthermore, the width in the x direction for performing the re-recognition processing is significantly narrower than the width in the x direction of the cut image 70 recognized in the first recognition processing, and the time for matching with the template is greatly reduced.

  Next, in step S <b> 10, the character of the reread result obtained by the re-recognition process is compared with the character of the magnetic read result stored in the memory 61 to determine whether or not they are the same. If the reread result and the magnetic read result are different (NO in step S10), the process proceeds to step S21.

  In this case, even if the re-recognition process is performed, the optical reading result and the magnetic reading result do not coincide with each other, and there is a high possibility that the reading is not correctly performed. In step S21, the fact that reading was impossible is displayed on the display unit 7 of the host device 6, and reading of the character string printed in the MICR recording area 23 is terminated.

  In step S10, the character of the reread result obtained by the re-recognition process is compared with the character of the magnetic read result stored in the memory 61. If the character is the same (YES in step S10), the magnetic ink is stored in the MICR recording area 23. It is determined that the character string printed by characters has been read correctly, and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the character of the optical reading result stored in the memory 61 is replaced with the character of the reread result obtained by the re-recognition process.

  In step S22, the reading result that matches the optical reading result and the magnetic reading result is stored as the reading result, and the reading of the character string printed in the MICR recording area 23 is finished.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the character string reading result by the magnetic reading and the character string reading result by the optical reading do not match, the CPU 60 which is the optical recognition unit performs the recognition process again. By performing the recognition process again in the optical recognition unit, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the coincidence rate due to erroneous recognition of the optical recognition even though the magnetic recognition is accurate, and improve the reading rate of correct recognition Can do.

  (2) When the character string reading result by the magnetic reading is different from the character string reading result by the optical reading, the recognition process is performed again only for the reading object whose reading result by the magnetic reading is different from the reading result by the optical reading. By performing the above, the probability of matching can be increased efficiently, and the correct recognition reading rate can be improved.

  The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and can be implemented as follows.

  (Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the recognition processing is performed in the host device 6 separate from the composite processing apparatus 10 including the magnetic reading mechanism 45, the printing mechanism 46, the optical reading mechanism 47, and the like. It is not essential to provide a separate CPU for performing the above. The recognition process can also be performed using the control unit 40 such as the CPU 41 in the composite processing apparatus 10. The host device 6 may be a host device dedicated to the magnetic ink character reading device, or may be a host device such as a POS terminal device.

  (Modification 2) The printing mechanism employs, for example, a dot impact type print head that transfers the ink on the ink ribbon to the check 20. Also, other types of print heads such as inkjet may be employed.

  (Modification 3) In the above embodiment, the reading result is stored and the reading process is completed. However, the reading result can be inquired following the reading process.

  (Modification 4) In the above-described embodiment, the reading result is stored and the reading process is completed. However, the reading result can also be displayed on the display unit 7.

  (Modification 5) In the above-described embodiment, the fact that reading is impossible is displayed on the display unit 7 of the host device 6, but can also be displayed on the display unit 50 of the composite processing device 10.

  (Modification 6) In the above embodiment, each function is realized by software using the CPU 60. However, if each function can be realized by a single electronic circuit without using an arithmetic unit, Such an electronic circuit is used.

The technical idea grasped from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below.
(Technical Idea 1) The magnetic ink character reading device, wherein the predetermined allowable value is determined based on a standard of variation in a printing position of the magnetic ink character on the processing target medium.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a host device and a composite processing device that constitute the magnetic ink character reading device of the present invention. The top view which shows the outline | summary of the check which is an example of a to-be-processed medium. The figure which shows the character shape of one example of a magnetic ink character. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main components of hardware of a composite processing apparatus and a host apparatus that constitute a magnetic ink character reading apparatus. The flowchart of the process in which the character string of a magnetic ink character is read. The figure which shows an example of the template of a magnetic ink character. The figure which shows an example of the image cut out. The figure which shows a part of cut image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magnetic ink character reader, 6 ... Host apparatus, 7 ... Display part, 8 ... Operation part, 9 ... Cable, 10 ... Compound processing apparatus, 11 ... Cover, 12 ... Insertion port, 14 ... Ejection port, 20 ... Check , 21 ... front writing area, 22 ... signature area, 23 ... MICR recording area, 24 ... endorsement area, 40 ... control unit, 41 ... CPU, 42a ... RAM, 42b ... ROM, 43a ... internal interface, 43b ... internal interface, 45 ... Magnetic reading mechanism constituting the magnetic reading device, 46 ... Printing mechanism, 47 ... Optical reading mechanism constituting the optical reading device, 60 ... CPU, 61 ... Memory, 62 ... Input / output interface, 70 ... Cut image, 71 ... MICR image, 72 ... Sign image.

Claims (11)

A magnetic data acquisition unit for magnetically acquiring magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium;
A magnetic recognition unit for recognizing the magnetic data;
An optical data acquisition unit for optically acquiring an image including the magnetic ink characters forming the character string;
An optical recognition unit for recognizing an object to be read included in the image for each character;
A comparison determination unit that compares a first magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit and a first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit;
When the comparison determination unit determines that the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result,
The optical recognition unit includes a second magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of the reading object by the magnetic recognition unit among reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit, and an optical reading unit. For a misrecognized character that is the reading target that is different from the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading target, the recognition processing range in the direction perpendicular to the character string direction is changed, and the recognition processing is performed again. A magnetic ink character reader. A magnetic data acquisition unit for magnetically acquiring magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium;
A magnetic recognition unit for recognizing the magnetic data;
An optical data acquisition unit for optically acquiring an image including the magnetic ink characters forming the character string;
An optical recognition unit for recognizing an object to be read included in the image for each character;
A comparison / determination unit that compares a first magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit with a first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit;
A position calculation unit that calculates an optical character position that is a position of a reading target recognized by the optical recognition unit, and
When the comparison determination unit determines that the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result,
Among the reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit, a second magnetic reading result which is a recognition result of the reading object by the magnetic recognition unit and recognition of the reading object by the optical recognition unit The optical character position of the reading target that is the same as the result of the second optical reading result is a position that is deviated beyond a predetermined allowable value in a direction perpendicular to the character string direction, with the reference position being the optical character position. The magnetic ink character reading device, wherein the recognition process by the optical recognition unit is performed again on the reading object. When performing the recognition process by the optical recognition unit again,
The recognition processing range on the medium to be processed is a range in which, in the character string direction, the erroneously recognized character that is the reading target in which the second magnetic reading result is different from the second optical reading result is located. , And the vicinity of the range where the erroneously recognized character is located,
Among the reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit, the second magnetic reading result and the second optical reading result are the same in a direction perpendicular to the column direction of the character string. The magnetic ink character reading device according to claim 1, wherein the reading object is a range where the reading object is located. Magnetic ink character reader
A host device;
A composite processing device having a printing unit that executes printing based on data transmitted from the host device,
The composite processing apparatus includes the magnetic data acquisition unit and the optical data acquisition unit,
The host device includes at least the magnetic recognition unit, the optical recognition unit, and the comparison determination unit,
Each data acquired by each acquisition unit is transmitted from the composite processing device to the host device, and based on the data received by the host device, the magnetic recognition unit, the optical recognition unit, and the comparison determination unit The magnetic ink character reading device according to claim 1, wherein each process is performed. Magnetically acquiring magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processed medium by a magnetic data acquisition unit;
Recognizing the magnetic data by a magnetic recognition unit;
Optically acquiring an image including the magnetic ink characters forming the character string by an optical data acquiring unit;
Recognizing a reading target included in the image by an optical recognition unit for each character equivalent;
Comparing a first magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit and a first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit;
When the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result, the magnetic recognition unit is the reading unit recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit. The misrecognized character that is the reading object is different from the second magnetic reading result that is the recognition result of the reading object by the optical reading unit and the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading object by the optical reading unit. And re-performing the recognition process by limiting the reading position in the column direction of the character string. Magnetically acquiring magnetic data of a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processed medium by a magnetic data acquisition unit;
Recognizing the magnetic data by a magnetic recognition unit;
Optically acquiring an image including the magnetic ink characters forming the character string by an optical data acquiring unit;
Recognizing a reading target included in the image by an optical recognition unit for each character equivalent;
Comparing a first magnetic reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit and a first optical reading result that is a recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit;
Calculating an optical character position that is a position of a reading object recognized by the optical recognition unit;
When the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result, the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit recognize among the reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit. The character string with the optical character position of the reading target as the reference position where the second magnetic reading result as the recognition result and the second optical reading result as the recognition result of the reading target by the optical recognition unit are the same. A step of re-performing a recognition process by the optical recognition unit with respect to the reading object at a position deviating beyond a predetermined allowable value in a direction perpendicular to the direction. Reading method. In the step of performing the recognition process by the optical recognition unit again,
The recognition processing range on the medium to be processed is a range in which, in the character string direction, the erroneously recognized character that is the reading target in which the second magnetic reading result is different from the second optical reading result is located. And in the vicinity of the range where the misrecognized character is located, and in the direction perpendicular to the column direction of the character string, among the reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit, 7. The magnetic ink character reading method according to claim 5, wherein the reading target is located within a range in which the two magnetic reading results and the second optical reading result are the same. Acquiring magnetic data in which a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium is magnetically acquired by a magnetic data acquisition unit;
Recognizing the magnetic data by a magnetic recognition unit of a computer;
Acquiring an image including the magnetic ink characters forming the character string optically acquired by an optical data acquisition unit;
A step in which an optical recognition unit of a computer recognizes a reading target included in the image by one character equivalent;
A comparison / determination unit of a computer compares the first magnetic reading result, which is the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit, with the first optical reading result, which is the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit; ,
When the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result, the magnetic recognition unit recognizes the reading target among the reading targets recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit. The misrecognized character that is the reading target in which the second magnetic reading result that is the result and the second optical reading result that is the recognition result of the reading target by the optical reading unit are different in the column direction of the character string. A program for causing a computer to execute a step of re-performing recognition processing by the optical recognition unit of the computer by limiting a reading position. Acquiring magnetic data in which a character string formed by linking magnetic ink characters on a sheet-like processing medium is magnetically acquired by a magnetic data acquisition unit;
Recognizing the magnetic data by a magnetic recognition unit of a computer;
Acquiring an image including the magnetic ink characters forming the character string optically acquired by an optical data acquisition unit;
A step in which an optical recognition unit of a computer recognizes a reading target included in the image by one character equivalent;
A comparison / determination unit of a computer compares the first magnetic reading result, which is the recognition result of the character string by the magnetic recognition unit, with the first optical reading result, which is the recognition result of the character string by the optical recognition unit; ,
A position calculating unit of a computer that calculates an optical character position that is a position of a reading target recognized by the optical recognition unit;
If the first magnetic reading result is different from the first optical reading result, the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit recognize the reading target by the magnetic recognition unit among the reading targets recognized by the magnetic recognition unit. The character string with the optical character position of the reading target as the reference position where the second magnetic reading result as the recognition result and the second optical reading result as the recognition result of the reading target by the optical recognition unit are the same. A program for causing a computer to execute a step of re-performing a recognition process by the optical recognition unit of the computer for the reading target located at a position that exceeds a predetermined allowable value in a direction perpendicular to the direction. . In the step of performing the recognition process by the optical recognition unit of the computer again,
The recognition processing range on the medium to be processed is a range in which, in the character string direction, the erroneously recognized character that is the reading target in which the second magnetic reading result is different from the second optical reading result is located. And in the vicinity of the range where the misrecognized character is located, and in the direction perpendicular to the column direction of the character string, among the reading objects recognized by the magnetic recognition unit and the optical recognition unit, 10. The program according to claim 8, wherein the reading target is a range in which two magnetic reading results and the second optical reading result are the same. A POS terminal device comprising the magnetic ink character reading device according to claim 1.